PHOTOS: Brookfield Zoo welcomes Amur leopard cub

BROOKFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- There's a new Chicago cub in town, but he lives at Brookfield Zoo. The adorable Amur leopard cub was born on July 22.

It will be several weeks before the public can see him at his outdoor exhibit at Big Cats, but he's making great progress bonding with his mom behind the scenes.

Animal care staff members at the zoo said after nearly 14 weeks, the cub now weighs about 15 pounds. They're keep a close eye on him to make sure he's healthy and is reaching critical developmental milestones.

There are only about 70 Amur leopards left in the wild, so this cub is a crucial addition to the critically endangered species, officials said.

Amur leopards are solitary animals. Officials said their habitats are getting smaller and smaller because of fires, logging and human settlements. Other big threats to their survival are poaching, retribution hunting and a decline in prey.

Brookfield Zoo hopes the cub's birth will help raise awareness about how people's actions impact the survival of a species and the importance of conservation.